Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3^rd July, 2012.

Resolved: - That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Consideration was given to the receipt of a petition from one hundred and fifty four residents objecting to the closure of Kimberworth Library.

The petition had been forwarded onto the relevant Department and would form part of the consultation on proposals for the future delivery of the Library and Information Service.

Resolved:-  That the receipt of the petition be noted and it be forwarded onto the relevant Department as part of the consultations on the future proposals for the Library and Information Service.

Consideration was given to the receipt of a petition from two hundred and sixty four residents objecting to the closure of Kimberworth Park Library.

The petition had been forwarded onto the relevant Department and would form part of the consultation on proposals for the future delivery of the Library and Information Service.

Resolved:-  That the receipt of the petition be noted and it be forwarded onto the relevant Department as part of the consultations on the future proposals for the Library and Information Service.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Steve Hallsworth, Leisure and Community Services, Manager, which detailed a request from Rotherham Titans Rugby Club for a formal decision to be made in respect of the use and storage of two sleds (used to practice scrum technique) on Herringthorpe Playing Fields.

In 2009 Rotherham Titans Rugby Club asked permission from the Urban Green Spaces Manager to use and temporarily store sleds (used to practice scrum technique) on the playing field. Permission was given by the Urban Green Spaces Manager and the sleds were stored in a corner of the field before and after use.

Between 2009 and 2010 no issues were raised with the Green Spaces Team in respect of the use or storage of the sleds on the playing fields and no incidents relating to health and safety were reported.  In 2011 the Urban Green Spaces Manager received contact from a member of the public raising concerns about a perceived health and safety risk from the storage of the sleds. This concern was supported by a Ward Member who had also been contacted by the same member of the public.

A risk assessment was undertaken by the Urban Green Spaces Manager, but as a result of further communications with the Ward Member and the Strategic Director for Environment and Development Services, the Rugby Club’s permission to store the sleds on the site was rescinded and they were asked to remove the sleds from the playing fields.

The Rugby Club brought the sleds back onto the playing fields in 2012 and the Urban Green Spaces Manager again asked the Club to remove them.  The Rugby Club have now made a request for a formal decision to be taken and have provided their own risk assessment in support of their request for use and storage of the sleds on Herringthorpe Playing Fields.

The Council’s Health and Safety Team have reviewed the equipment and risk assessments and confirm that equipment would pose little risk to health and safety if stored on Herringthorpe Playing Fields when not in use, subject to the following:-

·              The equipment should be stored in the area indicated on the map attached to the report.

·              The “A” frames should be stored on the metal frame of the Scrum Sled and secured to the Sled using a metal chain and padlock.

Having received a number of concerns about the storage of the sleds in this area, the Cabinet Member and her Advisers asked for clarification on the number of issues raised, if any, the location of the proposed sleds, their security and their proximity to local house, the reasons for the request given the proximity of the Titans Rugby Club to the playing field, the nature of the previous arrangement, the relationship between the proposed leasees of the playing fields and the Titans Rugby Club and the precedence for this proposed use and the concerns about the potential for anti-social behaviour.

On this basis it was suggested that a temporary agreement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

• Tuesday 2nd October, 2012, to start at 10.00 am in the Rotherham Town Hall. 

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism take place on Tuesday, 2^nd October, 2012, commencing at 10.00 am in the Town Hall.